PowerSwitch

Tarrel · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject:

I think the responses to the OP's question illustrate a problem with the firewood market, namely that it is difficult to define what you get for your money.

Wood seems to be sold by the tonne, by the cubic metre, or by the "load", which is sometimes clarified as a "pickup truck full". But is that single-cab or double-cab? Loaded level or heaped?. The type of wood is also important, since one needs greater volume to achieve the same energy from some softwoods, compared to some hardwoods. Suppliers also vary in how they deliver; is it just dumped in the yard or stacked? Also, how well seasoned is it?

We will have some excess wood from our thinnings over the next few years, so I am also keen to get a handle on prices. But I might just start swapping it for food.

FWIW, our Rayburn installer told me he paid £400 for 24 tonnes, split, mixed hard and softwood, seasoned last Autumn (around £17 per tonne, but admittedly in quite a large quantity).

Little John · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 8170 Location: UK

kenneal - lagger · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:21 pm Post subject:

We pay £100 for about 10t of unsplit softwood/hardwood mix, mainly softwood, cut into mansized pieces.
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Tarrel · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject:

"Mansized"? Shocked

adam2 · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:20 pm Post subject:

kenneal - lagger · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:48 pm Post subject:

adam2 · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:12 am Post subject:

I have just obtained a trailer full of small logs for £40, but freshly cut, not dried.
I doubt that they will be dry enough for use this coming winter, but they should be fine the year after that.
It is stored in a shed that is very warm due to solar gain and dry relatively rapidly.
A guidline for wood drying is one inch a year. That is a log 6 inches in diameter will dry in 3 years.
These logs are 4 inches in diameter and will hopefully dry in 18 months in the warmer than average conditions, rather than in 24 months.
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ujoni08 · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:13 pm Post subject:

You could split them if you need to shorten the drying time, though I suspect you have plenty in reserve anyway Cool

Little John · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 8170 Location: UK

emordnilap · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject:

The rain is only likely to affect the top layer anyway.

£40 is a bargain, adam2! Well done.
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adam2 · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:46 am Post subject:

energy-village · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 1054 Location: Yorkshire, UK

I'm still breaking up furniture, I have a lot of furniture. It's like 'Withnail and I' here sometimes.

Norm · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 287 Location: Europe

We recently had 3 cu m of fully seasoned 35cm length split logs delivered in those huge sacks (which are later returned). I could have had the length cut longer or shorter to suit my burner for exactly the same price. Total Cost for the 3 cu m in Swedish Krona was 1400 which equates to 47.77 pounds sterling per cu m. I know how much work goes into producing the firewood so I was happy with the price.
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ujoni08 · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:37 pm Post subject:

Good price.

I pay £80 for a level load on a Toyota Hilux. The wood-merchant doesn't know exactly what the volume or weight is. Any idea?